The corporate that owned a chartered helicopter misplaced to a lethal crash in regional Victoria yesterday has halted all flights, as authorities proceed to research.
Police stated in a single day a pilot and 4 passengers had been on board the helicopter, all of whom died on the crash scene close to Mt Disappointment, an hour north of Melbourne's CBD.
In an announcement, Microflite stated it was grounding all scheduled flights till subsequent Tuesday.
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Aviation specialists are anticipated to take over the investigation from this morning.
Police stated the crash victims had been:
- A 32-year-old man from Cheltenham, Victoria
- A 50-year-old girl from Inverloch, Victoria
- A 73-year-old man from Albert Park, Victoria
- A 59-year-old man from New South Wales
- A 70-year-old man from New South Wales
- A 50-year-old girl from Inverloch, Victoria
- A 73-year-old man from Albert Park, Victoria
- A 59-year-old man from New South Wales
- A 70-year-old man from New South Wales
"It is believed the chartered helicopter had taken off from Moorabbin Airport earlier than choosing up passengers in Batman Park, Melbourne about 7am," Victoria Police stated.
"The flight was destined for Ulupna, situated in northern Victoria.
"Police Air Wing situated the wreckage within the neighborhood of Blair's Hut about 11.45am on 31 March."
Police stated the reason for the crash was nonetheless unknown.
Nonetheless, specialists have this morning prompt low-flying cloud and poor visibility may very well be guilty, with the chopper itself cited as a extremely dependable mannequin.
The realm the place the helicopter crashed is roofed by such dense bush that police had been unable to entry it by floor or land a helicopter close by.
Bulldozers and an excavator had been required to clear a path to the crash web site throughout the search and rescue operation.
Rescuers needed to be winched from a police helicopter all the way down to the crash web site, close to Blair's Hut.
State Emergency Service volunteers, paramedics, police and Hearth Forest Administration staff arrange a staging level greater than 8km from the wreckage.
The helicopter was considered one of two travelling north in convoy from Melbourne's CBD over when it disappeared simply after 9.30am, in response to Victoria Police.
The second helicopter landed with out incident at Moorabbin Airport in Melbourne's south-east, after elevating the alarm.
Each Microflite Helicopter Companies plane took off from the banks of the Yarra River in Melbourne CBD close to Crown simply earlier than 8am.
Microflite Helicopter Companies' government common supervisor Rodney Higgins stated the non-public constitution flight that crashed was being flown by a extremely revered pilot.
He stated the constitution misplaced communication with the opposite helicopter simply after 8am, with the incident then instantly reported to the Australian Maritime Security Authority in accordance with normal protocols.
Mr Higgins stated the corporate would cooperate with intensive investigations into what had occurred.
"I lengthen my deepest condolences to all affected by this incident," he stated.
The Australian Transport Security Bureau (ATSB) is sending a workforce from Canberra and Melbourne to research the incident.
"As soon as on web site, they'll look at the wreckage and web site surrounds, and can retrieve any related parts for additional examination within the ATSB's technical amenities in Canberra," ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell stated.
"The ATSB can even analyse any recorded information and conduct interviews with those that have information of the flight."
Mr Mitchell stated the ATSB anticipated to publish a preliminary report concerning the crash in six to eight weeks' time.
"Nonetheless, at any stage ought to we establish crucial issues of safety we'll instantly notify related events so acceptable security motion might be taken," he stated.
The realm the place the crash has occurred was lined with low cloud and smoke from latest bushfire burn-offs.
The Australian Maritime Security Authority (AMSA) stated heavy fog and cloud hampered the preliminary aerial seek for the crash.